Governing Boards/University Administration
A listing of the University’s Board of Trustee members also is available online at www.ohio.edu/trustees/members
Click on a link to be taken to the entry below.
Governing Boards
Ohio University Board of Trustees
Cary Cooper, Chair
Peggy Viehweger, Vice Chair
Scott Borgemenke
Steve Casciani
Janelle Coleman
Matthew Evans
Lorrie Platt
Diane Smullen
Anna Harvey, national trustee
Eileen Sheil, national trustee
Jeff Laturell, alumni association representative
Ellen Gill Franks, student trustee
Sarah Ladipo , student trustee
Officers of the Board
David R. Moore, Board Secretary
Deborah Shaffer, Treasurer
Ohio Department of Higher Education
The Ohio Department of Higher Education is a Cabinet-level agency for the Governor of the State of Ohio that oversees higher education for the state. The agency’s main responsibilities include authorizing and approving new degree programs, managing state-funded financial aid programs and developing and advocating policies to maximize higher education’s contributions to the state and its citizens.
As a member of the Governor’s Cabinet, the Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education advises the Governor on higher education policy. The Chancellor also implements the Governor’s plan to make college more affordable for Ohioans and drive the state’s economic advancement through the public universities and colleges of Ohio, the state’s network of public universities, regional campuses, community colleges, and adult workforce and adult education centers. The Chancellor is responsible for carrying out the responsibilities of the agency, including authorizing and approving new degree programs and managing state-funded financial aid programs. Chancellor Randy Gardner was appointed the tenth Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education in January 2019.
University Administration
Administrative Officers
M. Duane Nellis, Ph.D. President
Hugh Sherman, Ph.D. President (effective June 14, 2021)
Elizabeth Sayrs, Ph.D. Executive Vice President and Provost
Deborah Shaffer, B.S. Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration
Candace J. Boeninger, M.A. Vice President for Enrollment Management
Jenny Hall-Jones, Ph.D. Interim Vice President for Student Affairs
Nico Karagosian, M.S., M.B.A. Vice President for University Advancement and President and CEO of The Ohio University Foundation
Robin Oliver, MBA Vice President for University Communications and Marketing
Gigi Secuban, Ed.D. Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
Joseph Shields, Ph.D. Vice President for Research and Creative Activity; Dean, Graduate College
Eric Burchard, B.A. Executive Director of Government Relationss
Stacey Bennett, J.D. General Counsel
Jennifer Kirksey, M.A. Chief of Staff
Julie Cromer, M.P.A Director of Athletics
Christopher Ament, M.B.A. Chief Information Officer
Brad Cohen, Ph.D. Senior Vice Provost for Instructional Innovation, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer
Colleges and Academic Programs
Florenz Plassmann, Ph.D. Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Jackie Rees Ulmer, Ph.D. Dean, College of Business
Scott Titsworth, Ph.D. Dean, Scripps College of Communication
Renée A. Middleton, Ph.D. Dean, Patton College of Education
Sara Helfrich, Ph.D. Interim Dean, Patton College of Education (effective June 16, 2021)
Mei Wei, Ph.D. Dean, Russ College of Engineering and Technology
Matthew Shaftel, Ph.D Dean, College of Fine Arts
John McCarthy, Ph.D. Interim Dean, College of Health Sciences and Professions
Donal Skinner, Ph.D. Dean, Honors Tutorial College
Carey Busch, Ph.D.
Interim Dean, University College
ADA/504 Coordinator
Kenneth H. Johnson, D.O.
Executive Dean, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and Chief Medical Affairs Officer
Neil Romanosky, M.L.S. Dean, University Libraries
Mark Weinberg, Ph.D. Founding Dean, Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs
Patrick Barr-Melej, Ph.D. Interim Executive Director of the Center for International Studies
Nicole Pennington, Ph.D. Executive Dean of Regional Higher Education and Lifelong Learning
Dean of Campus and Community Relations, Ohio University Southern Campus, Ironton
William J. Burke, D.O., FACOFP Dean, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dublin Campus
Isaac J. Kirstein, D.O., FACOI Dean, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Cleveland Campus
Elizabeth Longenecker, D.O. Dean, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens Campus
Executive Academic Staff
John Day, Ph.D. Associate Provost for Academic Budget & Planning
Howard Dewald, Ph.D. Associate Provost for Faculty and Academic Planning
Cary Frith, M.S. Chief of Staff to the Executive Vice President and Provost
Kerri Griffin, J.D. Director of Civil Rights Compliance and Title IX Coordinator
Rosanna Howard, M.B.A. Director of Operations & Budget for Regional Higher Education
Jennifer Murphy, Ed.D. Assistant Vice Provost for OHIO Guarantee Plus Graduation Plans
Beth Pratt, M.A. Interim Director of Editorial, Design, and Production for OU Press
Mac Stricklen, M.Ed. University Ombudsperson
Loralyn Taylor, Ph.D. Associate Provost for Institutional Effectiveness & Analytics